voltmeter says 17volts!

[dsujen]

I've got a 110hp vro evinrude 1986 mod.#e11omlcdc ser.#r1308421. Doing tests runs in my driveway and noticed my voltmeter going off the scale in the positive direction. After the engine runs for about 1 minute the voltmeter is buried at about 16.5 volts.To see if my gauge is wrong I checked the battery with a multi meter with the engine off. It read about 12.5. Then I checked it with the motor running and warmed up. It climbs from about 12.5 to 16.7 volts. My multimeter moves in sinc with the gage on the boat. What's wrong?

 

[ob]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

If the engine in question came stock with power trim/tilt unit it also came stock with a voltage reg/rec unit.I suspect that it is the culrpit in your overcharging issue.

 

[dsujen]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

It doesn't have power trim/tilt. What should I do?

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

All V motors have a regulator/rectifier. The regulator part of it has failed. Replace it.

 

[ezeke]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

The parts diagram and lists for your motor model shows an unregulated rectifier which may be regulated by a separate stand alone regulator, but probably is not.

http://epc.brp.com/default.aspx?brands=ej&lang=e

The unregulated rectifiers do not work properly with automotive batteries and work best with marine dual purpose deep cycle batteries. If you wish to regulate the rectifier, you can add or replace the regulater, whichever the case may be.​

 

[dsujen]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

Is this an easy job or do I have to remove the flywheel? I have the service manual but didn't read it yet.

 

[ezeke]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

First thing is to see what you have. If it is the unregulated rectifier it is between the terminal block and flwheel and is easy to reach without moving anything. It is a cylinder with a triangular base like the one shown here:

http://www.iboats.com/Cdi_Rectifier...68924138--list_time.1178107851--view_id.47460

 

[Kevin W]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

Your motor does not have a voltage regulator.
all it has is a rectifier.
Check your water level in your battery if that is down it will rise and also kill the battery.
If all cells are at a normal level ...unfortunately the battery is most likely a few years old and cannot suppress the higher voltage.

If is is a car battery or a smaller battery they do not have the capacity to regulate the voltage.
For many years outboards use unregulated charging systems.
I had an older marine battery (3-5 years old) that would start my boat without any problems but it would not suppress the high voltage.
I replaced the battery and the high voltage went away.

 

[ezeke]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

The unregulated rectifier is all that you need, it just needs a compatible battery.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

I'd almost bet that your battery is aged.

Just for giggles, test the output voltage of any battery charger you have in your garage, you may be surprised to see how high the unloaded open circuit voltage can get.

Un-regulated charging systems use the battery to limit voltage, the older the battery the higher the voltage necesssary to fully charge 'that' battery, a newer battery can fully charge in the range 13.8 to 14.2 volts while an aged battery could require 15 volts or more to fully charge, that old battery would never fully charge on a regulated system and be diagnosed as defective and replaced where that same old battery could continue to operate on an un-regulated system for quite some time yet.

If the acid in the cells is not blacked/burned, and the battery continues to crank the motor and start it, then leave it, when the battery begins to fail, then replace it with a quality replacement.

 

[jtexas]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

get a hydrometer (few bucks at autozone), and check your battery every once in a while, more often as the battery gets older. With a fully charged battery, look for a reading of at least 1.100 on each cell with a difference from highest to lowest not more than .03 (that would indicate a bad cell). as your battery ages the readings will drop and the differences will increase. Helps to decide when to replace it, rather than waiting till it leaves you stranded on the ramp, or on the water.

 

[dsujen]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

I read my service manual and it looks as though i have just a rectifier, although I'm not sure there isn't one under the flywheel. I tightend the wires on the battery and fired it up. Did the same thing. After 1 minute 17 volts on both meter and gage. I installed another used but otherwise good battery, same deal. What are the odds of both batteries being not good enough to regulate the voltage if they both start the motor effortlessly? If I replace the rectifier will it solve my problems?

 

[ob]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

The rectifier costs around 45 bucks if you decide to give it shot.It is possible that it is your overcharge problem.

 

[Kevin W]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

I read my service manual and it looks as though i have just a rectifier, although I'm not sure there isn't one under the flywheel. I tightend the wires on the battery and fired it up. Did the same thing. After 1 minute 17 volts on both meter and gage. I installed another used but otherwise good battery, same deal. What are the odds of both batteries being not good enough to regulate the voltage if they both start the motor effortlessly? If I replace the rectifier will it solve my problems?

You are correct they did not install rectifiers under the flywheel.
Unfortunately batteries with higher internal resistance will cause higher voltage.
batteries that will cause this are: maint. free, automotive, cheap marine starting and old marine starting/deep cycle.
All of these batteries will start the engine fine and test out ok but will float to a higher voltage due to the high internal resistance.
The best solution is a voltage regulator.

 

[dsujen]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

I got some info from a local mechanic. He said changing the rectifier will be a waste of money. It has no votage regulator. He said 3 things to try: Buy a new marine starting battery, not a deep cycle one, buy an after maket regulator that costs $200.00 and bolt it under the fly wheel, or don't worry about it cause once I use the boat and turn on things like the bilge pump, radio, lights ect. It should drop the voltage down.

 

[dsujen]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

Bought a brand new exide nautalus 525 cca marine starting battery. Voltmeter still jumps right up to 17 volts. I took boat out for sea trials and the battery barely turns the motor over. The battery I had was a 5 yr old deka marine starting bat. 1000 cca, started the motor fine even in 40 degree weather. I brought that as my back up but i have a feeling I'm going to use that as my operating bat again since the new one did nothing for my voltage problem and has a hard time starting in 80 degree weather. I ran the boat for about 10 mins at wot and none of the wires or bat got hot so I'm going to ignore the high volt readings.

 

[Kevin W]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

If you are having a problem with a new battery there are a few likely problems.
1. wiring problem (poor connection?)
2. the new battery has issues... a new battery should easily start an V8 engine. I don't see how or why it would not start the outboard easily.
3. maybe its a new old battery...new to you but 1 year+ sitting on the shelf.

I wish I had a clear cut answer but there are alot of possibilities.

 

[ezeke]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

From what I can see, you bought a maintenance free marine starting battery of the smallest size that Exide produces. Whose advice were you following?

Most battery stores do not charge the battery for you when they sell it - that is up to you. All of them will tell you that the battery is fully charged if you ask, but none can explain how it got that way. It's a miracle!

Battery connections are often corroded and the cables decay within the sheathing where you cannot see it. You can feel it after cranking though, high resistance always generates heat.


​

 

[dsujen]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

I charged the new battery overnite at 2 amps before i installed it. My wires are new and the connections are good.

 

[Kevin W]

Re: voltmeter says 17volts!

If you have new wires, good conections, and a charged battery and the new battery turns it over slow but an old battery turns it over faster your new battery sounds like it is junk.
I would guess it would fail a test.
its most likely under warranty.
It does not take a huge battery to start an outboard, it does however take a substantial battery to suppress the non-regulated voltage output of the motor.